Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-22
THE TEXAS INVESTIGATION.
Judge KiFke ON the Stand.

The Texas investigation was resumed to-day:
Judge La Fayette Kirke white, a democrat, Of
Washington county, Texas testified that he had
been county Judge since November, 1884; presided
over the commissioners court, and that court
counts the ballots in county elections. Witness
had heard that the diamond shaped (republican)
ballots had been decided legal by the state supreme
court, but had not read the decision; his duty was
simply to canvass the vote as returned by the
presiding judge OF each polling places, and he
has has no authority to 60 behind these returns.
Witness knew De Wees Bolton, who was killed at
polling place; had no conversation with him as
to the conduct OF the election. Witness was In
Brennan most Of the election day; late in the
afternoon went to Chapel Hill to see how the
election was going; left there about o'clock pm.,
and rode to Llewellyn polling place where he ex-
how the election was going; sent two kilograms
about the eection-One to d. d. Bolton telling
him that "th1ngs were mixed" In Brenham.
.'Do YOUR WORK."
Mr.. Spooner asked: "Dfd you not telegraph
Bolton: Things look gloomy; do your work p"
Witness did not remember the entire telegram.
but did not think it contained anything more than
that "things looked miXed;" was not positive that
he did not send such a telegram. Witness also
telling that the result was doubtful in Brenham:
did not believe he told the negro to do his work
Witness could only remember sending these two
kilograms, but sent number Of telephonic mes
SageS.
THE BRENNAN INDIGNATION MEETING
Witness attended the Brenham Indignation
meeting, and made speech, in which he declared
that If certain white republicans had melted the
negroes to riot and had proposed to arm them they
speech was made on the heels OF the killing OF
Bolton, Bolton, and it was was generally reported and
negroes at the instance of white repub-
ncanA ana that the latter approved it.
0f ehs m as
issued commitment for the eight negroes who
were arrested. He swore that he did not know
the men who hanged them, and did not know the
men who raided the ballot boxes.
On examination witness said the peoples
movement was organized by republican and demo-
cratic citizens to rid the county OF set OF Off
Gals who for years had been guilty OF maladmin-
1Stration. It was, he said question as to whether
citizens should sacrifice their property and move
away or rid themselves OF dishonest officials. In
1884 the peoples movement was organized, and its
ticket was elected. Many negroes voted for wit
ness. The white republicans last year resOrted to
desperate measures to recover political possession
OF the county, feeling that II they were beaten at
that election they could never recover their power
Judge Kirk said the report and belief was that the
negroes were advised to go around to the polls and
that they shot Bolton down. He referred to an
articls In schMltles & @ German paper, which tended
paper and stated that to protect themselves the
negroes stationed armed guards around the polls
and that Bolton was shot down by one OF these
guards. The witness said there was general
condition OF public excitement There were numer-
Gus anonymous, threatening letters sent. He got
produced the letter sent to him, which accused
him OF being the tnstigator of strife and informed
him that he would be
KILLED WITHOUT MERCY.
One OF the letters read was sent to Sloan
negro, and the writer said: ave have got two OF
the democratic chickens" i" and named Sloan as the
next game they wanted. Witness said that a few
days prior to the receipt OF that letter, two
brothers named Hopkins were killed by a negro
named Dan Nelson The two who were killed had
supported the peoples ticket, and the negro who
did the shooting was an active republican. A
negro who refuses to vote the straight republican
ticket is completely Ostracised.